This Morning presenter Josie Gibson opens up about having lipoedema - how to tell if you have health condition
This Morning presenter Josie Gibson has appeared on the ITV show to talk about her lipoedema diagnosis.
The 40-year-old TV presenter is normally interviewing others on This Morning, but today (Thursday January 15), she was a guest on the show discussing her health issue.
The star revealed to her fans via Instagram earlier this month that she has lipoedema, an abnormal build-up of fat in legs and sometimes arms, according to the NHS.
She revealed her diagnois when she shared a video of her workout. Captioning the video, the mum-of-one wrote: “I was diagnosed with lipodema last year which I always knew anyway.
“So the fight is real as my body retains fat unlike a normal body should. I have not shared because I thought it looked pretty obvious anyway.”
She added: “I have been working out more and here is a circuit I completed at the @anantaramaikhao gym.. I would love to build a gym like this. Hope this inspires someone out there…not that I think I’m an inspiration… I’m just one of those who is constantly fighting my genetics.”
Talking to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Josie said she got her official diagnosis last year a fan told her on Instagram that she had a “typical lipoedema body” - and at that time she didn’t even know what it was.
She said it seems as if her legs “don’t belong” on her body because they are so disproportionate to her “tiny waist”, and it’s getting worse depsite the fact she trains. She added that she “bruises like a peach”.
The star further shared that she has now had surgery to get rid of some of the lipoedema fat in her legs, even though it was the “last thing” she wanted to do, to help improve her condition as it was “her last resort”.
How to tell if you have lipoedema
Lipoedema usually affects both sides of the body equally, but it is more common in women, according to the NHS.
It can make a person’s bottom, thighs, lower legs look out of proportion with the rest of the body, and much bigger. It can also affect the arms.
Suffers may also notice pain, tenderness or heaviness in their limbs, and they may bruise easily. But, lipoedema affects people differently.
Some people have mild symptoms that do not affect their life, while others have physical problems. Lipoedema fat is not impacted by exercise.
If you think you have any of these symptoms, please visit your GP for medical advice.
How to treat lipoedema
There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help and stop it getting worse, according to the NHS.
Treatment includes eating healthy, doing more exercise, and wearing compression socks to reduce pain and discomfort.
What are the causes of lipoedema?
The exact cause of lipoedema is not clear. It's not caused by being overweight – you can be a healthy weight and still get it.
It may be caused by changes in hormones during puberty, during pregnancy, during the menopause or because of taking the contraceptive pill. Sometimes lipoedema also runs in families, says the NHS.